Upholstered spring structure



D. H. VAN HQVE UPHOLSTERED SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. '7, 1922 PatentedAug., 2l, i923.

UNIT STATES carriero DESIRE H. VAN HOVE, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORTO REYNOLDS SPRING COMPANY, F JACKSON, MICHGN.

UPHOLSTERED SPRING STRUCTURE.

Application led December 7,1922. Serial No. 605,489.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Dnsmn H. VAN Hovn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,have invented new and useful Improvements in Upholstered SpringStructures, of which the following is a specification.

vThe invention relates to an upholstered spring structure.

T he object of the present invention is to provide for upholsteredspring structures,

a base frame equipped with means for sup porting the spring structureand for securing the marginal springs to the base Jframe and to themarginal springs at the lower ends thereof.

A further object of the invention is to pro-y vide a base frame of thischaracter adapted to hold the leather or other material, of which theleXible covering is constructed, smoothly in position so as to present aneat finish7 and to protect the flexible covering from wear, abrasion orother injury at the point of attachment of the covering to the baseframe and to the spring structure.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedout in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, tewithin the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the drawings, in which like characters e0 of reference designatecorresponding parts in the several viewst Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view of a portion of a spring structure provided with amarginal base frame constructed in accordae ance with this invention. lFigure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional erspective view of a portion ofthe base rame illustrating the manner of attaching the marginal springsand the Flexible coverer ine.

igure 3 is a detail perspectivevlew ol' a portion of the main strip.

Figure l is a similar view of a portion of the auxiliary interlocking,clamping strip.

e5 ln the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment ot the invention, the base frame comprises in its contructiona main strip l and an auxiliary interlocking clamping strip 2constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and designed inpractice to extend around the `four or more sides of a spring structure,such as a spring seat of an automobile or the like. The main strip iscomposed of upper and lower approximately horizontal sides 3 and 4, andan inner connecting portion or bend 5. The upper and lower sides 3 and 4are spaced apart to form an approximately U-shaped body portion, and thelower side Ll, which is extended outwardly beyond the upper side, isprovided at the outer edge with an upwardly, extending longitudinal ange6, which is nearly vertical and which is adapted to be compressed orbent inwardly to close the space between the upper and lower sides 3 andIl at the outer portion of the main strip to conne the lower marginalportion 7 of a flexible covering 8 in the longitudinal opening or spacebetween the upper and lower sides of the main strip. The main strip inpractice is preferably constructed of heavy material, and the narrowupper Side 3 is provided with an upwardly extend ing approximatelyvertical flange 9, which spaced from the upwardly extending flangi- 6 ofthe lower side. before the said flange il is bent inwardly to confinethe marginal por, tion of the flexible covering within the main stripfor fastening the said marginal cover ing to the base frame. Themarginal portion of the flexible covering 8 is preferably provided witha hem l0 formed by folding the material on itself and stitching thefolded portion and a core ll, consisting of a rod of metal or wood, orother suitable material, is preferably arranged within the hem toprovide a bead or vmarginal enlargement, 'which is confined within themain strip and which eilectually prevents'the exible covering fromaccidentally slipping out of the base frame', The marginal portion otthe illexible covering may be constructed in any other desired manner aswill be readily un derstood.

rlhe interlocking auxiliary strip 2, which is reversely arranged withrespect to the main strip, is composed of upper and lower spaced sidesand an outer curved connecting portion or bend 12, which presents asmooth i supporting surface to the flexible covering 8 at the attachedmarginal portion thereof, and it enables the flexible covering to bestretrhed taut without liability of tearing or otherwise-injuring theflexible covering. This also enables the flexible covering to bemaintained in a smooth neat condition at the point of attachment to thebase frame. The lower side of the auxiliary clamping strip extends intothe main strip and fits against the inner o1' lower face of the upperside of the said main strip, while the inner face of the bent orconnecting portion 12 fits against and is braced by the upwardlyextending flange 9 of the said upper side 3 of' the main strip. Theupper side of the auxiliary clamping strip is adapted to be compressedor pinched around the upper and innerside faces of the lower end coils13 of the coiled or volute springs 14 of the spring structure and thecompressed or pinched portions 15 of the upper side of the auxiliarystrip se curely fastens the marginal springs upon the main strip of thebase frame, which supports the said marginal springs. The springstructure, which may be of any preferred construction, consists of rowsof the said coiled or volute springs coupled or otherwise connectedtogether at their upper and lower ends and preferably provided at theirupper ends with a marginal frame 16.

The main and auxiliary strips are adapted to be easily and quicklyassembled, and the said strips may be readily compressed to fasten themarginal springs and the marginal portion of the flexible covering tothe base frame.

`What is claimed is:

1. In a spring structure, a base frame comprising a main approximatelyU-shaped strip having spaced upper and lower sides and an innerconnecting portion and provided at the outer edges of the sides withprojecting anges. the flange of the lower side being adapted to be benttowards the upper side to close the space between'the said sides toconfine a flexible covering therein, and a reversely arranged auxiliaryclamping strip interloclred with the main strip and having an exteriorflange adapted to be compressed around the upper and inner faces of thelower end coils of the marginal springs of a spring structure to securethe marginal springs upon the main strip.

2. ln a spring structure including a base frame comprising a main stripapproximately U-shaped in cross section having spaced upper and lowersides, the lower side being extended outwardly beyond the upper side andthe said sides being provided at their outer edges with projectinglongitudinal flanges. the flange of the lower side being adapted to bebent inwardly towards the upper side to confine a flexible covering inthev main strip and an auxiliary clamping strip interlocked with themain strip and having an exterior flange located above the upper side ofthe main strip and adapted to becompressed around the lower end coils ofthe marginal springs of a spring structure.

3. In a spring structure'including a base frame comprising a main stripapproximately U-shaped in cross section having spaced upper and lowersides, the lower side being extended outwardly beyond the upper side andthe said sides being provided atA their outer edges with projectinglongitudinal flanges, the flange of the lower side being adapted to bebent inwardly towards the upper side to confine a flexible covering inthe main strip, and a reversely arranged auxiliary clamping stripapproximately- U-shaped in cross section having upper and lower sides,the lower side extending into the main strip and the upper side beinglocated above the same and adapted to be compressed around the lower endcoils of the marginal springs of a spring structure to secure themarginal springs upon the main strip.

4. In a springl structure including a base frame comprising a` mainstrip approximately U-shaped in cross sectionhaving spaced upper andlower sides, the lower side being extended outwardly beyond the upperside and the said sides being provided at their outer edges withprojecting longitudinal flanges, the flange of the lower side beingadapted to be bent inwardly towards the upper side to confine a flexiblecovering in' the main strip, and a reversely arranged auxiliary clampingstrip composed of upper and lower sides and an outer connecting portionfitted against and braced by the upwardly extending flange of the uppersideof the main strip and presenting a. convex ex'- terior surface tothe flexible covering, said auxiliary clamping strip having its lowerside extending into the main strip and its upper side located above thesame and adapted to be compressed to clamp springs of a spring structureon the main strip.

5. In a spring structure, a main strip of approximately U-shape, havingupper and lower sides and provided at the upper side with asubstantially vertical projecting longitudinal flange and an auxiliaryclamping strip of approximately U-shape reversely arranged with respectto the main strip and having its lower side 'extending into the mainstrip and its upper side located above the same. said auxiliary clampingstrip fitting against the said flange and braced by the same and adaptedto clamp springs on the main strip.

1n testimony whereof 1 lhave hereunto set my hand.

DESIRE H. 'VAN HVE.

